Re: Whats the best laptop for sims4 and work?

@Player_njlrsklo  I've split your post into its own thread, since your issues are quite different (and it's easier for me to keep track of this way).

First of all, macOS is very good at throttling performance to protect the hardware.  The major reason gaming can damage a computer is through excessive heat, but your OS should prevent that.  It's still possible though.  If you want to monitor temperatures, iStat is probably the best tool for Macs, at least among those that offer a free version.

The CPU temps (including the graphics chip integrated into the processor) should ideally stay below 80º C, although you don't really have a problem until you get into the 90s.  You can also get a cooling pad to help, which would obviously be much cheaper than a new laptop.

By the way, the other major source of damage to a graphics card is maintaining excessively high framerates over a long period of time, but your integrated graphics chip probably isn't going to maintain high enough framerates for that.  Still, if you're playing on lower settings, it's best to enable vertical sync in the graphics options, and make sure the framerates don't go over 60.  To see fps in real time, bring up the cheats console (ctrl-shift-C) and enter "fps on" without quotes.  The number will apper in the lower left corner.  ("fps off" makes it go away.)

By the way, it's normal for your processor to turbo and for the fans to rev up while you're playing.  The processors in my computers start running at their max turbo clock as soon as I launch Sims 4, even though their load is low enough that it's totally unnecessary.  To be fair, I haven't paid close attention in macOS, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the same result.

Your graphics chip is about equal in gaming performance to an Nvidia MX130 or MX150 in gaming, although it's hard to be sure since so many games don't run at all in macOS.  If temperature isn't a factor, you should be able to play on medium-high settings as it is, so I'm not sure you'd want to buy a new laptop just to get the same performance, at least not without seeing whether you can play effectively on this one.  Again, as long as temps are under control, you really don't have to worry too much.

If you do want a new laptop just to play, you could one that would run all Sims 4 packs together on ultra graphics settings for $700:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1542057-REG/msi_gf63_thin_9scx_005_gf63_i5_9300h_8gb.html

The hard drive is small, but it's more than enough for the game, your saves, and all the custom content you could ever download.  If you wanted to save a bit of money, you could get an open-box version of this one, with the same hardware (other than a larger hard drive); the option that's not sold out is $607.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-512gb-solid-state-drive-black/6356774.p?skuId=6356774

Or you might be able to find a used laptop with an Nvidia 1050 (regular or ti), if you trust the seller enough to take that risk.  But the next class of laptop down is going to be almost as expensive and only provide a marginal improvement in performance, if any.

If you would in fact like a laptop that would handle only medium graphics, something like this would work:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-laptop-14t-7ax33av-1

Let me know if you want to see similar options.  And please feel free to ask more questions.

Okay thank u so much.

me looking for another computer possibly wasn’t due to anything graphics related it was just for the fact that i was scared by the noise the computer makes the second i start playing the game and also the heat that starts coming from the laptop and lastly the fact that i read i should be playing sims 4 with the computer charging the whole time - i’m worried about how those things will affect the longevity of my mac. i want it to last long term and not be ruined by sims 4 game. i figures even tho i spent a lot already throwing it all away years from now if the mac isnt well performing due to those three factors listed that it may be better although painful to spend another 5-700 now and play separate instead of slowly damaging a 2000$ device overtime

But if i understand you correctly as long as i get the temp under control and maybe adjust the setting to medium high but do the fps cheat i should be ok? no slow damage done at all ? Can you address my worry about the mac being plugged during gameplay for like 3 -5 hours at a full charge . I always thought that was bad for devices ? like they say not to overcharge your iphone overnight and it causes damage to the battery but not to the mac while playing sims 4 simultaneously?

next, if i’m playing at medium / medium high i don’t need to enable vertical sync? only if i’m playing low? if i keep playing on my mac can you tell me exactly how i should configure my gameplay graphic settings? with mac preservation in mind but still wanting a clear picture

Also is the fps cheat a one time thing or it needs to be continuously checked?

@Player_njlrsklo  I have a 15" MacBook Pro and played almost exclusively on it for over a year, always with the laptop plugged in.  I also normally use it with it plugged in.  A couple of months ago, when the computer was more than two years old, I did some hardware monitoring and noticed that the wear level on the battery read as 8.5%, and the battery still read as having 60Wh when fully charged.  That's not much more than I'd expect with light use and no gaming.  Besides, batteries can be replaced.  You should definitely keep the laptop plugged in while you play anyway, for better performance.

As long as temperatures are fine, and framerates aren't too high (even 100 fps wouldn't be an issue), you don't need to worry about Sims 4 doing any damage to your Mac. What I meant about the graphics settings and fps is that the lower the settings, the higher the framerates your graphics chip will generate.  I don't think the chip could generate high fps on high or even medium settings anyway, just based on its overall speed, but you should check no matter what.

Some people like to play with fps constantly showing, but it's not necessary.  Start a new save and send a sim to Newcrest in good weather, then see what framerates you get.  You shouldn't ever see anything higher than you do there, in a world full of nothing, unless you lower the graphics settings.  Lower framerates are common in certain worlds (e.g. Del Sol Valley) or when the game isn't running well for other reasons, like there are too many sims around or the weather is bad or something else demanding.

If your fps is consistently below 60 (the refresh rate of your monitor), you don't need to enable v-sync.  You can still try it and see whether the game runs better if you want.  But if you're getting higher than 60 fps, that just means you can turn up the settings a bit.

By the way, one other very helpful step to make the game run better is lowering the in-game resolution.  The fewer pixels your graphics chip has to render, the easier it is.  On the other hand, very low resolutions don't look as good.  A good compromise might be playing at 1680x1050 or even 1440x900; your screen supports both resolutions.

Feel free to experiment until you get something you like.  Again, as long as temps are good, you should be fine.

Hi again, Thank you!

ok i think i few better. so if you were me , you would not go and purchase another laptop just to play sims 4?

you would just get a cooling pad -( which one is best by the way?) check the fps, toggle with resolution, adjust graphic settings and keep the game plugged in and i should be fine? You can replace mac book batteries?

i didn’t know that. 

i don’t know much about this stuff

do you use virus and computer protection software on your macs. should i get one? especially with cc downloads i’m thinking that may be a good idea. what do you think.

I think i’m going to take the idea of getting a new laptop just for sims out of my head. I love this mac book. i just want to protect it , but if i have nothing to worry about then yes , i’d obviously rather play on here. no lagging, nice display , i’m happy with everything i just want to take every precaution. 

have we discussed all the precautions i should take? or are there anymore ?

@Player_njlrsklo  Those are all the precautions I'd take, and if temps were within range, I wouldn't worry.  I don't know what cooling pads are best, really—I haven't been using one and usually go for a laptop tray instead.  It's not as efficient as a cooling pad, but it works okay for my taste.  On the other hand, I don't really play games on my Mac anymore, so I'm not the best judge.

I don't use a separate antivirus or firewall on my Mac, but then I don't download a lot of custom content, either.  If you want to be reasonably safe, use Firefox and add NoScript and UMatrix.  Also, avoid The Sims Resource if you can—it's full of viruses that even the strongest security software doesn't always manage to block.

In a couple years, you might see Sims 4 start to lag a bit, more due to the game's increased demands than anything wrong with your Mac; and then you might decide to get a gaming laptop just for Sims 4, and use your Mac for everything else.  But for now, as long as you're happy with how the game runs, there's no reason to switch.

Solid advice thanks a lot really appreciate it. I have used the sims resource in the past .. yea it seems so sketchy what should i do to check and remove any virus i may have from use the sims resource? it can be a free or paid program that’s good for keeping my computer clean .. any recommendations?

i don’t mind the game lagging in a couple years . well i do kind but it would t be as awful as my computer failing to work or turn on or whatever. i’ll look into a cooling of and adjust the settings when i play tomorrow . thanks for being so helpful ..I think my last question is what i asked about the sims resource and virus protection.. might have some more when i go to play and look into fps like u said

@Player_njlrsklo  If you've updated your operating system since the last time you were on The Sims Resource, you should be fine.  Reinstalling your OS (or installing a new one) is the last best defense against viruses anyway.  I'm not saying you need to do this, just that if you have, you don't need to worry.  There's plenty of antivirus software for macOS, but I think Malwarebytes is probably the best right now, at least among the free versions.

For TSR or other sites that use Adfly, you can look up how to "unshorten" a link, which essentially gives you the address for the download you want, instead of your having to wait to be redirected there after Adfly does its thing.  But if you're really nervous about the site, you can skip it and get your cc from elsewhere.  There are plenty of sources out there.

hi how are you doing? I hope fine. I stopped playing the sims for a while and just played again my laptop was literally up to 125 degrees !!!! why??? what is causing this. what can i do to make it not get so hot while i wait for my cooling pad? i literally have the graphics on medium. What is causing it to get so hot? It was like that since the first day i downloaded the game. It doesn’t move very slow, but it also isn’t very fast i’m in ok with the performance i guess. i’m so upset. This mac book was over $2000 and i can’t even play the sims on it without stressing and worrying and without the laptop being extremely hot. Please help !!! 

thank you in advance !

or can you tell me which of these fan options is that one that you told me should be 90 or less i believe the number you said was 90 right? I can always scroll up . but if you look at this picture my CPU digital core 1 went as high at 205 degrees just a few moments ago when i launched a saved sims game and as soon as i exited the game it started drecresing. it’s at 109 now. I won’t be playing the game anymore unfortunately until i figure this out ... which really sucks cause i have nothing better to do ☹️ am i able to return this laptop. i wonder what apples policy is. it’s been a month. i just don’t understand what i’m doing to cause it to get so hot by just playing the sims with the game plugged in as everyone else does . please advise . are these any other things i can do to lower the temperature beside cooling pad ? how much degrees does the cooling pad typically decrease from the laptop temperature anyway. you wanna know something . I kind of smell something burning . i think it’s this damn mac book! >:o

@Player_njlrsklo  You're looking at the temperatures in Fahrenheit.  Please switch to Celsius.  The CPU shouldn't get into the high 90s Celsius, and the other components should be cooler, with the possible exceptions of one or two motherboard sensors that I'm not sure would get picked up.

I don't know whether you can return this laptop or not, but while you wait for a cooling pad, try pointing a fan directly at your slightly elevated laptop (put books under the corners) while you play, and see what the temps look like.  The system should throttle performance before temperatures become immediately dangerous, although you wouldn't want to sustain CPU temps at or close to 100º C for too long.